Children's home run by Unity Residential Care Services Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme

children and young people since the most recent full inspection

This home was judged Requires improvement at the full inspection. At this interim inspection Ofsted judge that it has Improved effectiveness .

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Life for the two young people who live here is progressing well. They have settled into a stable home and are feeling like they are putting down roots. They are having a positive experience; they like the home and the people who care for them. Their lives are calmer and safer and their family relationships and educational opportunities are better.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

The manager has very skilfully managed the planned admission of a new young person and the planned departure of another. Careful pre-admission assessment, even in an emergency, has included visits to family and comprehensive information gathering. She drives to collect young people, helps to move belongings and really makes them feel welcomed. This has helped to make the placement successful. A young person said this was, ‘One of the better placements.’ Another said of moving in, that it was: ‘nerve wracking- but I’m settled now.’ Relationships matter, and staff keep in touch when young people move on.

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Proactive safeguarding practice is having a positive effect on young people’s safety. Staff and managers have responded well to significant risks in their lives, including managing risks from child sexual exploitation (CSE). They are safer as a result. Local specialist police are highly complementary about the impact that staff intervention has had and the manager is clearly a valued partner in the local network for CSE protection. They said staff: ‘use the right channels. They do everything asked. Really good and patient with her. Couldn’t ask for any more in a difficult situation.’

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

Effective leadership is helping young people to live well, do well at school, and get to grips with their wishes for the future. One young person said she trusted the manager but, ‘can go to any staff’ for help. Managerial monitoring at the home and in the organisation delivers a good quality of care and ensures only child focused, professional practice. The staff team is now settled, experienced, and trained well. Some staff have not been suitable, and the manager has taken action to build a team that works well with these young people. A social worker said: ‘staff have worked persistently to build relationships’ with young people. The manager has taken action to meet the three regulatory shortfalls and one recommendation from the last inspection. Care planning is now good: from an area of previous weakness this has become a strength. Staff now write lovely care plans with full input from young people so they are truly meaningful to them. They

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

actively edit their plans and review them each month so they are live, respectful and inclusive documents. These plans accord with current local authority plans and staff implement review actions promptly. For example, better arrangements for young people to visit family. There is now effective risk management and positive action by staff to manage challenges in young people’s behaviour. The manager learns from incidents and strengthens staff practice when there are behavioural challenges that require physical intervention. Constructive approaches to behaviour, mean that staff get support to think about helpful strategies and young people are fully involved in this process. One young person said: ‘staff have to keep you safe.’ There is now no reliance on police to manage behaviour. Risk of young smoking at the house are reduced. A new fire risk assessment and individual fire evacuation plans for young people keep everyone safe. There are no shortfalls

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

raised at this inspection. Consultation and engagement with, and challenge to, placing authorities is part of the manager’s professional practice. Responsive partnership working with others supports and improves the outcomes for young people. Young people have the resources and services they need to progress and the staff and manager have advocated on their behalf to make sure they are part of the care plan. Placing authorities say that communication with them, families and schools is, ‘excellent.’ The house is warm, welcoming and is a lovely home for young people. It is non- institutional, set up for their activities, including study and craft and activities. Young people lead active lives and staff fully support time in and out of the home, at laser quest; swimming; gym; boxing, and healthy eating clubs. Consequently, young people get to build some good, trusting relationships. Another placing social

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children and young people since the most recent full inspection

worker said: ‘I feel that all the staff at Hillside are well trained, knowledgeable and child focused. The staff go over and above to ensure that the young people are safe and advocate strongly for their views. Communication is excellent and the young people are provided with great experiences in placement.’ The service is clearly on an improving trajectory.

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Information about this children's home

The home provides care and accommodation for up to two children with emotional or behavioural difficulties. The home is owned by a private provider.

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Recent inspection history

Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

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Recent inspection history

24/09/2015 CH - Full Requires improvement

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Recent inspection history

03/03/2015 CH - Interim Sustained effectiveness

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What the inspection judgements mean

At the interim inspection we make a judgement on whether the home has improved in effectiveness, sustained effectiveness, or declined in effectiveness since the previous full inspection. This is in line with the Inspection of children's homes: framework for inspection.

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Information about this inspection

Inspectors have looked closely at the experiences and progress of children and young people living in the children's home. Inspectors considered the quality of work and the difference adults make to the lives of children and young people. They read case files, watched how professional staff work with children, young people and each other and discussed the effectiveness of help and care given to children and young people. Wherever possible, they talked to children, young people and their families. In addition the inspectors have tried to understand what the children's home knows about how well it is performing, how well it is doing and what difference it is making for the children and young people who it is trying to help, protect and look after. This inspection focused on the effectiveness of the home and the progress and experiences of children and young people since the most recent full inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service and to consider how well it complies with the Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the Guide to the children's homes regulations including the quality standards. procedures set out in the guidance raising concerns and making complaints about Ofsted, which is available from Ofsted's website: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted . If you would like Ofsted to send you a copy of the guidance, please telephone 0300123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, workbased learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It inspects services for looked after children and child protection. If you would like a copy of this document in a different format, such as large print or Braille, please telephone 0300 123 4234, or email enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk . You may reuse this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence , write to the Information

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Information about this inspection

Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk .

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Information about this inspection

Interested in our work? You can subscribe to our monthly newsletter for more information and updates: http://eepurl.com/iTrDn .

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Information about this inspection

Store Street Manchester M1 2WD T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofsted

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